Counter machine with flange plate waxing means



Aug. 30, 1932. c. J. BLAKE COUNTER MACHINE WITH FLANGE PLATE WAXING MEANS Filed Oct. 31, 1930 CECIL JAMES BLAKE, F MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO J. HAMMOND STEWART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs COUNTER MACHINE WITH FLANGE PLATE WAXING- MEANS Application filed October 31, 1930. Serial No. 492,440.

The present invention relates to machines for molding, and forming the flange on, shoe counter stiifeners, which in the artare commonly called counters. Its particular object is to provide means for supplying wax, or equivalent lubricant, between that part of the machine,

counter which is formed into a flange and the plate or presser which forms such flange.

In the standard type of counter molding the counter blank, which is ordinarily first moistened or tempered with water to make. it pliable, is gripped between an inner mold member, known as the plug or last, and a pair of outer members known as 15 molds, which shape the counter to the prescribed form and squeeze it with great force. At this time the counter blank is so placed that a zone along one edge, of a width sufficient' to provide the flange of the finished 20 counter, protrudes from between the plug and molds, extendingoutwa-rd from the front faces thereof, which are in a plane. A flange turner plate or presser commonly called a flange plate, is caused to wipe across these .25 faces of the plug and molds while the counter blank is so gripped, and in so doing to bend the protruding edge of the blank over to form the flange, at the same time press-ing the flange with great force against the contiguous face of the plug, in the case of an inturned flange. or of the molds in the case of an outturned flange.

It is desirable to provide lubricant between the contacting surfaces of the counter blank and flange plate, in order to cause the flange plate to pass over the counter flange smoothly and without chattering, to avoid tearing or unduly stretching the flange, and to prevent the plate from adhering to the flange and bending it back or crumpling itin the return stroke. It is also desirable to limit the application of lubricant on the counter to the flange portion thereof alone, leaving the body of the counter in good condition to receive and hold adhesive which is used in the shoe making process to stick the upper leather and lining to the opposite sides of the counter. -While it has been common heretofore to apply oils, waxes and the like to counter blanks prior to molding,'no means have been known for applying such substances in connection with the molding operation itself, and supplying the lubricant only atthe place where it IS needed, with exclusion from those parts of the counter where its presence is obj ectionable. It is the object and accomplishment of my invention to provide such means in combination with counter molding instruments and particularly the flange turning plate of a counter molding apparatus.

The invention therefore consists in such a combination, and comprises further a waxing appliance adaptedfor application to counter molders. An embodiment of the invention in a counter molding machine which is otherwise of a well known standard design is herein shown for illustration, and with the understanding that the essence of the invention and the generic protection herein claimed is not limited thereby to such machine.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of so much of a standard counter molding machine, having my invention applied thereto, as suflices to illustrate the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the parts of an attachment to the machine by which wax is delivered to the flange plate.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

In the drawing, it represents the top cross beam or stationary cross head of the machine, which is ri idly supported and held at a fixed distance from the base by upright tie rods 6 andnuts c thereon. (Z indicates the so-called plug or last forming the inner moldpressure forcibly against the flange whichand flange plate.

is turned over by its action as it wipes across these faces. 71. 1s a link forming part of the mechanism by which the flange plate is operated.

These mechanisms are constructed, ar-

ranged and operated according to the stand- '.ard practice and substantially as illustrated in patents to Stewart, No. 467,473, January 1 fications and departures from the illustration herein rriven may be made without departure 19, 1892, and No. 826,697, July 24, 1906.

The new step of this invention is embodied.

in means for automatically supplying wax to the contacting surfaces of the flange plate and counter, and in the present embodiment, it applies the wax directly on the rear face of the flange plate. A supply of a liquid preparation of wax is held in a cup or 'reservoir. j andis conducted by gravity through a conduit 76 to a wick Z, or equivalent wiper or spreader, located beneath'the cross beam and directly above the molds, and behind the This spreader distributes the wax'over so much of the surface of the flange plate as comes into contact with the counter flange; or at least, and particularly, over the part which first engages'the flange. In this illustration the molding instruments are arranged to form an inturned flange on the counter with pressure by the flange plate against the forward side of plug d. The flange plate first engages the counter at the rear end of the latter, in the course of its down stroke from a raised position. The wax spreader l is so located with respect to the total travel of the flange plate as to a-pply wax to'that part of its surface which first comes to bear forcibly on the counter flange. I The wax spreader is preferably, though not necessarily, a wick made from a piece of thick felt partiall embraced by an open sided box or tray m, t e latter in turn being'fitted slidingly Within a box n which is open at its forward end and has slotted flanges 0 at opposite sides for attachment to the beam or. A hole p in the top wall of the box a registers with the wax conduit to admit wax to the spreader. The tray m is open at the top, to'leave the wick exposed for reception of wax in any part of its upper surface. Springs 9 are interposed between the rear wall of and the rear wall of the box a;

the wax delivered, as well as'the permit detachable connection with the cross beam of the machine. The springs contain a suflicient contact of the wick or spreader at alltimes with the backof the flange plate. The tray m affords by its rear wall a rigid member for taking the thrust of the springs and transmit thrusts uniformly to the spreader wick. Its bottom and side walls relieve the wick of substantially all rubbing contact on the enclosing guide.

Preferably the conduit for the wax is the tray formed in part as a passage through the cross beam at, or as a tube placed in such a assage; although it would not be a departure rom the invention to locate the supply reservoir at any other convenient point and lead the conduit to the spreader in any other convenient course.

It will be understood that various modifrom tlie principles of this invention, and that all-such modifications are intended to be protected by the more generic of the appended claims. It is to'be noted also that the naming of wax in the foregoing specification as the lubricant to be used, is not intended as a limitation of the invention to the use of any specific lubricant or class of lubricants. Wax .is' a descriptive term typifying all lubricantswhich are suitable'to be used for the purpose, and are capable ofbeing applied in the manner, indicated in this specification.

The device as shown is adapted to beapplied readily to counter molding machines already in use. The slotted flanges on the r spreader holding device are adapted to be slipped under the heads of bolts which are provided on such machines for securing the reaction plate for the outer molds to the cross beam. 7 The wax cup may be mounted on a bracket which can be attached to the cross beam by a bolt as shown, or may be provided with a slotted base flange, similar to the and rigid, and being rigidly secured in the passage through the beam. Such passage may be drilled in any location desired, for instance, or at an inclination as well'as vertically, and may lead on a straight slant from the location-of the cup to the receiving hole in the spreader guide. However, the generic principles of the invention may be otherwise incorporated in counter molding machines of other designs.

. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with counter molding instruments including a flange turning presser, of means for automatically delivering lubricant betweenthe contacting faces of said presser and that portion of the counter which is engaged thereby.

2. The combination with means for holding a shoe counter and means for turning and pressing a flange thereon, of means for automatically supplyinglubricant between such flange and the turning and pressing means.

3. A counter molding-machine having a flange turning presser and means for applying lubricant to the flange engaging face thereof.

4. A counter molding machine including complemental molding instruments adapted to shape a counter blank and grip it with one edge protruding, in combination with a flange plate arranged to wipe over, bend into a flange and press such protruding part, and automatic wax supplying means arranged to deliver wax between the contacting sur-v faces of said flange plate and the counter blank.

5. A counter molding machine comprising a frame, molding instruments, a cooperative flange plate, and a spreader arranged to apply wax to the wiping face of said flange plate in the course of its normal travel.

6. A counter molding machine comprising a frame, molding instruments, a cooperative flange plate, a spreader arranged to apply wax to the wiping face of said flange plate in the course of its normal travel, a wax reservoir, and a conduit arranged to conduct wax continuously from the reservoir to the spreader.

7 In a counter molding machine, a beam forming part of the frame of such machine, a flange plate mounted to reciprocate across said beam, a wick box attached to the under side of the beam, and a wick contained in said box and protruding therefrom to bear on the adjacent face of the flange plate.

8. In a counter molding machine, a beam forming part of the frame of such machine, a flange plate mounted to reciprocate across said beam, a wick box attached to the beam, a wick contained in said box and protruding therefrom to bear on the adjacent face of the flange plate, and provisions for delivergig liquid wax continuously into said wick 9. A wax applying attachment for counter molding machines comprising a box open at one end and having apertured flanges by which such attachment may be made, a tray slidingly contained in said box, spring means interposed between the closed end of the box and said tray for projecting the latter toward that element of the machine on which wax is to be applied, and a wick in said tray adapted to be protruded from the box by the spring.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

CECIL JAMES BLAKE. 

